Evidence synthesis in bioactive compound efficacy exploration and biosynthesis

Evidence synthesis represents a systematic methodology involving comprehensive retrieval of multi-scale evidence spanning molecular, in vitro, animal and population studies, followed by rigorous critical appraisal and selection of optimal evidence to establish an evidence chain, ultimately serving as a scientific foundation for research decision-making. Evidence synthesis, a rigorous methodology utilizing the best available scientific evidence, has been widely applied in medical and health research. This review summarizes current applications of evidence synthesis in the efficacy exploration of bioactive compounds and in biosynthetic research. It particularly emphasizes the methodological value of evidence synthesis in the comprehensive evaluation of plant-derived synthetic products, spanning key processes including target compound screening, synthetic process optimization, and efficacy assessment. Furthermore, it analyzes the enabling role of evidence synthesis in empowering efficacy validation of bioactive natural products and supporting decision-making in biosynthetic target screening, while also addressing the challenges hindering its broader implementation. By dissecting the core elements of successful cases, this review proposes strategic recommendations to advance the in-depth application of evidence synthesis, aiming to provide practical references for efficacy exploration of bioactive compounds and biosynthetic research.